| If you're reading this article, you must think you | | | | Yamaha ES7 or the Roland Fantom. These are |
| or someone you know is too old to learn to play | | | | fantastic keyboards but the learning curve for |
| a piano, keyboard or organ or any musical | | | | these machines is very steep and if you are |
| instrument for that matter. | | | | learning to play the keyboard, you don't want to |
| So lets give you the quick answer, "no you are | | | | be spending all your time learning how to operate |
| not too old". Now I think I should actually | | | | the keyboard. Whatever instrument you choose I |
| re-phrase the question, "Do I want to learn to | | | | recommend, you find yourself a music teacher. If |
| play a musical instrument?" If you can ask | | | | you buy a keyboard or organ from a music shop, |
| yourself this question, whatever age you are, | | | | they can certainly recommend a local teacher or |
| then you should be able to answer positively. | | | | like many music shops provide keyboard lessons |
| So let's assume you have reached retirement age | | | | on the premises. |
| and you are in your sixties. Let's also assume you | | | | Learning music is about what you personally want |
| have some saving and a pension and you need a | | | | to get out of it. You might for instance want to |
| hobby to fill up your time. You decide that you | | | | learn to play one piece of music or a book of |
| want to learn to play a keyboard instrument. The | | | | music or just to see how far you can go. There |
| next step is, do you want to learn to play an | | | | are no limits. You can learn at your own pace. |
| arranger keyboard or electric organ. | | | | I have taught many older people that have said, |
| If you want a new electric organ such as the | | | | "I wish I had learned to play when I was younger" |
| Roland Atelier, its going to cost you anything up | | | | and "children can learn a lot quicker" and "maybe I |
| to twenty thousand pounds. Having said that, the | | | | won't be able to learn at my age". Yes children will |
| organ market is all but dead in the UK, so there is | | | | pick things up a little quicker because that's the |
| a thriving second hand market, and plenty of | | | | nature of being a child, to learn new things |
| bargains to be had. If you want an electric | | | | everyday. Adults however, are probably better at |
| keyboard then you can buy one of these, brand | | | | applying themselves to one particular subject such |
| new with the latest technology for between two | | | | as music. |
| and three thousand pounds. If you do go down | | | | Adults of any age, have less time to learn a |
| the keyboard path then I would recommend you | | | | musical instrument but still have the ability to learn. |
| buy an arranger keyboard such as the Yamaha | | | | So if you are between five years old and a |
| Tyros, Ketron SD5, Roland G70 or the Korg PA | | | | hundred and five years old and thinking whether |
| 800. Although there is some operational learning | | | | to get yourself a Yamaha electone organ or an |
| with these keyboards, they are designed so you | | | | arranger keyboard. Then what are you waiting |
| can start playing the thing as soon as you take it | | | | for, what have you got to lose. You won't regret |
| out of the box. | | | | it I promise you. |
| Avoid workstation keyboards such as the | | | | |